Behind me are the two backs, on whom, when all else fails, the issue of the conflict depends.

The Craven players are similarly disposed, and waiting impatiently for our captain's kick.
"Are you ready ?" he shouts.
Silence gives consent.
He gives a quick glance round at us, then springs forward, and in an instant the ball is soaring high in the direction of the Cravens' goal amid the shouts of onlooking friend and foe.
Our forwards were after it like lightning, but not before a Craven back had got hold of it and run some distance in the direction of our goal.
He did not wait to be attacked, but by a clever drop-kick, a knack peculiar to all good backs, sent it spinning right over the forwards' heads into the hands of one of our quarter-backs.

He, tucking it under his arm and crushing his cap on to his head, started to run.

Going slowly at first, he steered straight for the forwards of the enemy till within a pace or two of them, when he doubled suddenly, and amid the shouts of our partisans slipped past them and was seen heading straight for the Craven goal.

But although he had escaped their forwards, he had yet their rearguard to escape, which was far harder work, for was not one of that rearguard the celebrated Slider himself, who by his prowess had last year carried defeat to our school; and the other, was it not the stalwart Naylor, who only a month ago had played gloriously for his county against Gravelshire?
Yet our man was not to be daunted by the prestige of these distinguished adversaries, but held on his way pluckily, and without a swerve.